Closure for containers



May 15, 1934. P. D. HARTOG CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 7, 1932 Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE assignments, to American Tube and Cap Corporation, Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application December 7, 1932, Serial No. 646,052

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to closures of a type particularly adapted for closing dispensing cans and like receptacles containing talcum powder, bath salts and similar materials. Within the broad aspects of the invention, the present closure can also be employed in connection with collapsible tubes and the like, such as might contain toothpaste, shaving soap, salves, etc. In general, the invention pertains to the type of closure shown in Reissue Patent No. 18,649 to Walther Kalb,

wherein the closure element is permanently connected with the neck of the dispensing receptacle, and is reciprocated into open and closed position on this neck by a simple pushing or pulling motion of the closure element. The closure element is resiliently held in its open and closed positions by a snap spring preferably constructed in the form of a spring-buckling disc or washer, the outer edge of which moves with a snap action across a 0 neutral plane when this outer edge is pushed to a downwardly flexed position or pulled to an upwardly flexed position. The closure element is operatively connected with this buckling spring, preferably having attachment around the outer peripheral edge thereof, whereby the closure element moves with this snap motion into open and closed positions, and is resiliently held in each of these positions by the spring tension of the disc. This general type of closure for cans, tubes and 0 like containers possesses the advantages of preventing the closure element from becoming lost; of enabling the container to be instantly opened or closed by a quick simple motion of the closure element; and of assuring a close-fitting airtight 3 seal of the container when the closure element is in its closed position.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an improved container wherein the spring-buckling disc is constructed as an integral part of the neck structure of the container. This simplifies the construction and assembly of the device by avoiding the necessity of the separate crimping or spinning operation which has heretofore been necessary for joining 4 the inner peripheral portion of the disc to the neck structure. Such construction also reduces the number of parts required to be handled in assembling the device.

Another object of the invention is to construct the dispensing neck with its discharge ports so arranged as to afford a larger effective area of port opening for a more rapid flow of the contents of the container through these ports or openings.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detail description of a preferred embodiment thereof. In the accompanying drawing illustrating such embodiment:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view (taken approximately on the plane of the line 11 of Figure 3) through the upper portion of the container, its dispensing neck, and the spring actuated closure element, this view being on an enlarged scale and showing the closure element in its closed position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the closure element in its open position;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the integral unit consisting of the spring-buckling disc and head member of the neck assembly.

The container 6 is most typically representative of a can or carton for containing talcum powder, etc., although, as previously stated, it may also be representative of a collapsible tube or the like for containing toothpaste, shaving cream, etc. The dispensing neck portion is designated 7 in its entirety; it comprises the lower attaching shell 7a and the head member 717. The head member 7b is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced discharge ports or openings 8, preferably in the form of substantially vertical slots. The closure member is designated 9, and the spring buckling disc is designated 11.

The attaching shell 7a may be secured to the body 6 of the container in any suitable manner; in the preferred construction illustrated, the shell is provided with an outwardly extending rim or bead 14 formed by extending the metal outwardly and thence inwardly back upon itself, which rim or bead seats on the upper side of an inwardly directed flange 15 forming part of the container. The lower extremity of the attaching shell is spun or crimped outwardly against the under side of the flange 15, as indicated at 16. The upper portion of the attaching shell 7a is converged inwardly and formed 100 with an upwardly extending cylindrical flange or rim 1'7, the upper edge 18 of which flange forms a seat or shoulder on which the inner portion of the spring buckling disc 11 rests.

The closure member 9 comprises an upper coni- 105 cal portion 21 having a radial flange 22 extending inwardly from its upper end. Flaring outwardly from the bottom of this conical portion 21 is a skirt portion 23 which is formed with an internally grooved rim or bead 24 at its lower 110 edge. This bead is crimped or spun over the outer peripheral edge of the spring disc 11, and an airtight seal may be established at this joint, if desired.

The upper neck member '71) is of approximately cup-shape form, comprising a closed end 2'7, from the sides of which a conical wall slopes outwardly and downwardly to form the conical seating surface 28. This conical surface 23 constitutes the cooperating closure surface against which the inner edge of the flange 22 seats when the closure element 9 is in its closed position. The downwardly extending side walls of this head member 7b are notched out at spaced intervals to form the slot-like discharge ports 8.

As previously remarked, this head member 71) and the spring buckling disc 11 are constructed as an integral unit. The portions of metal between the slots 8 extend downwardlyin the form of legs 31 and are formed with U-shaped bends 32 at their lower ends which join with the outwardly flaring solid portion of metal constituting the buckling disc 11. This solid disc portion seats on the shoulder 18 of the lower attaching portions 7a and establishes an efiective seal at this point. The outer legs 32a of the U-shaped bends 32 have a pressed or driven fit down within the cylindrical flange 1'7, whereby the two units 7a and 7b are securely held together. This pressed fit is a quick, easy assembly operation which securely holds the inner part of the disc portion 11 without the necessity of any crimping or spinning operation. It will be noted that the discharge slots 8 extend downwardly throughout the entire length of each of these J-shaped supporting members 3l-32 which join the head 27 with the disc 11, with the result that these discharge ports are of large efiective area for securing a rapid discharge of the contents of the container.

The disc portion 11 is shaped to have a conical spring bias whereby the outer edge thereof moves with a snap action across a neutral plane when this outer edge is pushed to a downwardly flexed position. or pulled to an upwardly flexed position. v The closure cap 9 in moving therewith is resiliently held in each of its two extreme positions. When the cap is in its closed position the tension of the disc is continuously maintained thereon for resiliently holding the flange 22f pressed against the conical seating surface 28.

In constructing the neck portion 7a. and disc portion 11 as an integral unit from a single sheet or blank, the slots 8 are preferably first punched out and then the blank is shaped to form the J-shaped connecting members between the inner and outer portions of the blank and is shaped to establish the conical'spring bias in the disc portion 11. 1

While I have illustrated and described what I regard to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, nevertheless it will be understood that such is merely exemplary and that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention.

said cap and operating to throw the latter either to the discharge position or to the closed position as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutral position.

2. A container comprising a neck member provided with a discharge opening, an external cap for said discharge opening movable lengthwise of said neck member into open or closed position, said cap being adapted for direct manual grasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, and a spring-buckling disc constructed integral with said neck member and having its outer peripheral portion connected with said cap, and operating to throw the latter either closed position as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutral position.

3. A container comprising a neck member provided with a discharge opening, an external cap member for said discharge opening movable lengthwise of said neck member into open or closed position, said cap member being adapted for direct manual grasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction; and an elastic snap device constructed integral with one of said L members and connected with the other of said members and operating to throw said cap member either to the discharge position or to the closed position as soon as the cap member passes beyond its median or neutral position.

4. A container comprising a neck member provided with a discharge opening, an external cap member for said discharge opening m'ov'able lengthwise of said neck member into open or closed position, said cap member being adapted for direct manual grasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, and a springbuckling disc constructed integrally with one or said members and 'operatively connected with the other of said members, and operating to throw said cap member either to the discharge position or to the closed position as soon as the cap member passes beyond its median 'or neutral position.

5. A container comprising a dispensing neck including a lower attaching shell and an upper head member, said head member having a discharge opening therein, an external cap for said discharge opening mova le lengthwise of said neck into open or closed position, said cap being adapted for direct manual grasping to initiate the movement thereof in' ither direction, and a spring-buckling disc constructed integral with said upper head member and 'opera'tively connected with said'cap, said disc operating to throw said cap either to the discharge position or to the closed position as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutral position. I

6. A container comprising a neck including a lower attaching shell and an upper headfmember, said head member having a plurality of discharge openings around its sides and having a seating surface thereon above said discharge openings, an external cap for said discharge 3140 openings movable lengthwise of said neck into open or closed position, said'cap being adapted for direct manual graspingto initiate the movement thereof in either direction and engaging on said seating surface when in closed position, and a spring-bucklingdisc portion constructed integral with said upper head member and projecting outwardly therefrom and operatively connected with said cap, said disc portion operating to to the discharge position or to the its its

throw said cap either to the discharge position 01-2 15 to the closed position as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutral position.

7. A container comprising a neck member provided with a discharge opening, said neck member including downwardly and upwardly extending portions, an external cap for closing said discharge opening movable lengthwise of said neck member into open or closed position, said cap being adapted for direct manual grasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, and an elastic snap device constructed integral with the upwardly extending portion of said neck member and connected with said cap and operating to throw the latter either to the discharge position or to the closed position as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutralv position.

8. A container comprising a neck member provided with a discharge opening, said neck member including a side wall having a V-shaped bend at its lower end, an external cap for said dis charge opening movable lengthwise of said neck member into open or closed position, said cap being adapted for direct manual grasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, and a spring-buckling disc integral with the outer leg of said U-shaped bend and connected with said cap, said disc operating to throw said cap either to the discharge position or to the closed position as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutral position.

9. A container comprising a dispensing neck including a lower attaching shell and an upper head member, said upper head member including J-shaped side walls having discharge openings therein, the outer upwardly extending portions of said J-shaped side walls engaging within said lower attaching shell, a closure element for said discharge openings movable lengthwise of said neck into open or closed position, said closure element being adapted for direct manual grasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, and elastic snap device connecting said neck with said closure element and operating to throw the latter either to the discharge position or to the closed position as soon as the closure element passes beyond its median or neutral position.

10. A container comprising a neck member including a lower attaching shell and an upper head member, said upper head member having downwardly extending J-shaped supporting members seating within said attaching shell, substantially vertical slots between said J-shaped supporting members defining a plurality of discharge openings around the sides of said head member, said head member having a seating surface above said slots, an external cap for said discharge openings movable lengthwise of said neck into open or closed position, said cap being adapted for direct manual grasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, and a spring-buckling disc connecting said neck with said cap and operating to throw the latter either to the discharge position or to the closed position as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutral position.

PAUL D. HARTOG. 

